High Profile Deals, Billion-Pound Funds and Everything in Between

Why our work at Kognise is anything but boring

We’re often asked what we actually do at Kognise. It’s a fair question, because no two weeks, or even two days, ever look quite the same. And that’s exactly how we’ve built it.

One moment, we’re elbows-deep in the operations of a sustainability-focused business, we’re there not just as advisors, but as temporary partners—fixing what’s broken, simplifying what’s overbuilt, and ensuring the business can find its feet and move forward with confidence.

Then, almost in the same breath, we’re sat across the table from a team managing over £100 billion in global real assets, walking through long-horizon investment theses and mapping out capital strategies that align social impact, sustainability, and serious commercial return. Often, we’re not just helping them deploy, but co-creating new vehicles, platforms or strategies that don’t exist yet.

That same week, we might be on Zoom with a globally known star from the film industry and their team, exploring how to develop their sport and wellness brand and space. Or we’re on the phone with one of the biggest names in global entertainment, building a roadmap for how they can use clean technology to decarbonise how they create, perform and engage with millions of fans worldwide.

This is the range. And this is the energy. It’s varied, it’s unpredictable, and frankly, it’s the reason we get up in the morning.

At any given time, we’re working with companies across the capital stack—pre-funding, post-raise, or in full-blown distress. Some founders come to us looking to raise smart capital with the right structures behind it. Others are scaling fast and know they need help building around the momentum. And some, quite frankly, are in triage mode. The business is burning too hot, the board’s getting nervous, or the strategic clarity’s just gone missing.

Whatever the situation, our role is consistent: structure, calm, capital, and momentum. Whether that’s stepping in operationally, supporting the raise, or reshaping the model for what comes next, we get in fast and build forward from wherever the business is today.

We work best where there’s a blend of ambition, complexity, and commercial potential. Sometimes, it’s a first-time founder with a world-class product and no idea how to commercialise it. Other times, it’s a well-resourced PE house looking to bolt on a strategic acquisition and turn it into something investable. We’ve helped pharma clients bring their IP to market, worked with media and sports groups to rethink their entire monetisation model, and helped turn cultural assets into scalable businesses.

The sectors vary—often wildly. But what stays constant is our approach: get clarity, take action, and deliver results. No fluff. No decks for the sake of it. Just focused work that makes things happen.

Right now, we’re speaking to a number of billion-pound impact funds and family offices who are actively looking for differentiated deal flow, credible co-investment opportunities, and the kind of projects that sit outside the standard PE conveyor belt. We’re also working with operators who are building the next wave of growth in markets that matter—sustainable infrastructure, agri-tech, digital health, future of sport, entertainment IP and more.

And the timing matters. The market is shifting hard. Sustainable investment now tops £30 trillion globally. Private equity dry powder is at all-time highs—£2.8 trillion and counting. At the same time, UK insolvencies are up 44% year-on-year, and the pool of distressed but high-potential businesses is only growing. It’s a rare window where smart capital, sharp execution, and real vision can create meaningful, asymmetric outcomes.

At Kognise, we’re not here to make things look good—we’re here to make them work. We go deep, move fast, and operate side-by-side with people who are building, fixing, or reimagining something meaningful. From board-level strategy to front-line delivery, we match ambition with action—and we’re always up for a challenge.

If you’re building something exciting, need help stabilising or scaling, or simply want access to distinctive deal flow—we should talk.